Life can surprise us at any moment. Sometimes these are pleasant surprises, like winning the lottery or receiving a college acceptance letter. Other times they are serious, like getting injured or losing a friend. Still, other times life just surprises us, like when an older relative moves in. If you’re in this situation but don’t know what to do, read these tips on how to prepare your home when a parent moves in. With the right mental preparation, you’ll see it’s not that bad.
Set Boundaries
Most importantly, as your parent moves in with you, set boundaries. You may not have lived with this parent for many years, and as a homeowner yourself, you didn’t plan on living with them again. Still, life happens, and sometimes you do what you need to do. First and foremost, talk to your parents about personal space and personal boundaries. Remind them you’re not a child anymore, and as an adult you need to live your life in addition to helping them with theirs.
Safety-Proof the Home
Still, having an older relative move in is a major lifestyle change. This may require you to safety-proof the home. For example, you may need to replace the front porch steps with a handicap-accessible ramp. You may also need to convert the ground floor or install a motor chair on the stairs if your parent is physically immobile. Otherwise, even if they’re fairly self-sufficient, it doesn’t hurt to purchase a medical alert system. Medical alert systems come in landline or mobile varieties, and help aging parents through easy-to-use communication to alert emergency responders of a fall, injury, or accident.
Give Yourself Time To Adjust
Another tip on how to prepare your home when a parent moves in is to give yourself time to adjust. Living with a parent as an adult is a tricky hurdle to overcome. Whether expected or unexpected, you may be accustomed to living on your own or with your own family. Adding in another family member to the mix may cause issues if you do not set boundaries or communicate.
Even if things go well, give yourself time to adjust with newer responsibilities. These may be financial, such as installing motor chairs or other accessibilities, or mental, like managing a caretaker role in addition to your other full-time responsibilities. Take time for yourself occasionally or engage in some relaxing activities to help clear your head and alleviate any anxiety.
